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After clinching the World Championship title last November, Gukesh Dommaraju returned to classical chess in the opening round of the Tata Steel Masters. Skipping the World Rapid and Blitz Championships in New York, this marked his first game as the reigning world champion. Despite arriving in Wijk aan Zee on the morning of the game, the youngster defeated Dutch star Anish Giri in a dramatic encounter. Giri, playing with black, achieved a winning position amid severe time pressure but faltered with a critical blunder. Gukesh capitalised on the mistake, simplifying the position to secure the victory.
Vincent Keymer, who served as Gukesh's second during his championship match against Ding Liren, also triumphed in a tense first-round clash. Facing 18-year-old Leon Luke Mendonca, the lowest-rated player in the tournament, Keymer survived a losing position to claim victory. Mendonca, who earned his spot in the Masters by winning the 2024 Challengers, had a significant advantage after gaining a passed pawn in a sharp, imbalanced position. However, a critical error on move 31 allowed Keymer to turn the tables.
Mendonca blundered with 31.Rc1, overlooking 31...Qxh3, and resigned thereafter, with mate-in6 on the board. The game hinged on Mendonca's missed opportunity to play 31.Qxh5 to maintain his advantage.
The first round also saw a third win for a member of Team Gukesh, with 38-year-old Pentala Harikrishna delivering a masterful performance. Harikrishna, who replaced Vidit Gujrathi in the lineup following Vidit's withdrawal in December, showcased his experience against second seed Arjun Erigaisi. Playing with white, Harikrishna dismantled his younger compatriot's position in a stylish manner. The loss dropped Arjun below the 2800-rating mark on the live ratings list.
Meanwhile, the remaining four games ended in draws, though they were far from uneventful. Jorden van Foreest and Vladimir Fedoseev engaged in a dynamic battle that could have gone either way, with both players creating chances. In another sharp encounter, Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu displayed extraordinary resilience to hold a draw against Nodirbek Abdusattorov. Abdusattorov sacrificed his queen early in the middlegame, seeking attacking opportunities against Pragg's exposed king, but the young Indian defended resourcefully to split the point.
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Looking ahead to round two, Gukesh will face Fedoseev with the black pieces, aiming to continue his strong start. The spotlight will also be on the clash between two of the favourites, Arjun and Giri, as both players look to recover from their first-round defeats.
Vincent Keymer achieved what is likely to be a valuable victory from a losing position against Leon Luke Mendonca | Photo: Tata Steel Chess / Jurriaan Hoefsmit
Arjun Erigaisi and Pentala Harikrishna | Photo: Tata Steel Chess / Jurriaan Hoefsmit
The critical points in the marquee game of the day happened during mutual time trouble, with Gukesh first blundering with 33.h3
Giri had just a bit over a minute on the clock, but that did not prevent him from finding the powerful 33...Be4, the winning reply. However, after 34.Rxf2 Nxf2+ 35.Kg1, the Dutchman faltered decisively.
There is no middle ground in this position. Either Black keeps his large advantage with 35...Ng4 or any other move is losing. Unfortunately for Giri, he went for 35...Qb6, with a losing position for Black. White can force an exchange of queens with 36.Qf6+, and the endgame is winning for the recently crowned world champion.
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Round 1 results
The Challengers section began with an exciting showcase of talent, featuring some of the youngest prodigies in the chess world. Among them was 11-year-old Argentine IM Faustino Oro, the youngest participant, who took on Vaishali Rameshbabu but suffered a defeat in his opening game. Meanwhile, 14-year-old Lu Miaoyi from China and 16-year-old Ediz Gürel from Türkiye made strong starts, both securing victories with the white pieces. The trio's inclusion in the tournament has brought additional excitement to this year's edition.
Gürel's win mirrored Keymer's game in the Masters, as he capitalised on a critical blunder by his opponent, Romanian IM Irina Bulmaga. After Bulmaga erred with 32...Qf5 instead of the stabilising 32...c5, Gürel delivered a precise tactical sequence starting with 33.Rexd4.
Bulmaga resigned shortly after recognising that 33...Rexd4 34.Rxd4 Qxc2 35.Rxd8+ Kh7 36.Bd3+ would leave her queen captured.
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In addition to Gürel, Lu and Vaishali, Uzbekistan's Nodirbek Yakubboev and the Czech Republic's Thai Dai Van Nguyen also got off to a winning start. This left five players tied for the lead at the end of the first day. The strong start from this group sets the tone for a highly competitive Challengers section, with each participant eager to claim the coveted spot in next year’s Masters tournament.
Round two promises a thrilling encounter between co-leaders Vaishali and Lu, as the young prodigies continue to demonstrate their potential in Wijk aan Zee.
Faustino Oro | Photo: Tata Steel Chess / Jurriaan Hoefsmit
Lu Miaoyi | Photo: Tata Steel Chess / Jurriaan Hoefsmit
Round 1 results
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